Ranking NFC East Starters: Safeties
Ranking NFC East Starters: Safeties
It’s important to compare the Philadelphia Eagles to their division rivals, as those teams will be their main competition for a playoff spot. This series will compare the starting rosters of the four NFC East teams, continuing with safeties.
1. Malcolm Jenkins
Jenkins has been a revelation for the Eagles since he was signed in 2014. Most importantly he’s been consistent, something Philadelphia has sorely been missing in the defensive backfield for so many years. Throughout 2018, Jenkins didn’t miss a single snap on defense, earning his third Pro Bowl selection in the process. In due time, his pay will reflect his value.
2. Landon Collins
After an ugly split with the Giants, Collins signed a great huge contract with the division rival Redskins. His play over the last two seasons has been good, but a far cry from the Defensive Player of the Year-level campaign he showed us in 2016. His coverage and range have always been the weak point of his game, but he makes his money as a thumper in run defense. If he can return to the heights he reached two seasons ago, his massive salary won’t be seen as an issue.
3. Jabrill Peppers
A young speedster with a ton of potential, the Giants hope he can make the Odell Beckham trade well worth it. He showed promise during his sophomore season in Cleveland when they took advantage of his versatility and moved him around. Training camp reports have been excellent, and Dave Gettleman is quietly putting together a talented young defensive backfield in the Big Apple.
4. Rodney McLeod
One of the many Eagles DBs to miss significant time, McLeod lost the majority of the 2018 season to a ligament tear in his knee. He’ll return to Philadelphia with a shrunken contract, eager to prove he can still ball. He only recently returned to practice, but the big-hitting safety has reportedly already made an impact on the practice field. With the addition of former Vikings S Andrew Sendejo and the versatility of second-year cover man Avonte Maddox, rest shouldn’t be an issue for McLeod if he needs it early in his comeback.
5. Xavier Woods
Another part of the youth movement in the Dallas Cowboys secondary, the Cowboys are expecting big things from the rangy 24-year-old. He’s picked off Dak Prescott numerous times in camp already, including a pick-six that recently went viral. If a breakout season ensues, it will be yet another testimony to the defensive genius of Cowboys assistant Kris Richard. Woods finished the 2018 season with 56 tackles and two interceptions.
6. Antoine Bethea
Even at the age of 35, Giants fans are ecstatic to see now-Raiders DB Curtis Riley replaced. Bethea isn’t anything close to a long-term starter, but he’s a solid player who likely still has one to two seasons left in the tank. Even if he does end up playing like someone with 14 years of wear and tear on their body, that should still be enough to overcome the memories of a full year of Curtis Riley. His veteran presence will be a boost for the young defenders in New York’s secondary.
7. Jeff Heath
One thing must be made clear: Jeff Heath is not good at playing football. It becomes increasingly obvious with every passing season, yet Dallas still hasn’t put much effort into finding a replacement. Despite the collective disapproval of every Dallas fan on the face of the Earth, we will see Heath make his 94th career start in Week 1. At least he can kick?
8. Montae Nicholson
It’s reached the point where Nicholson is more known for his legal troubles than his actual play on the field. He fell off a cliff after an impressive rookie campaign, but after a highlight-filled training camp, there’s hope he can be the answer across from Landon Collins. He rounds out the end of this list because we still don’t know what to expect from him, but it shouldn’t take much for him to rocket past Jeff Heath.
-By: Micah Jimoh